Symposium highlights emerging role of nano-tech, nano-biotech

ISLAMABAD - Underscoring the potential of nanotechnology and nano-biotechnology in nuclear science, agriculture, food security, medicine and environment, experts at a two-day symposium stressed the need for more vigorous research activities and innovative initiatives in these relevant fields, in addition to ensuring capacity building.The symposium titled "Nano-technology and Nano-biotechnology Innovative Applications for Sustainable Green Economy and Climate Change Mitigation (ISN-2013)" was organized by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), in collaboration with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) of Indonesia, says a press note released by the COMSATS Headquarters, Islamabad, on Wednesday. About 65 participants from scientific and academic circles, as well as officials from public and private sectors of Indonesia benefited from the symposium.The local S&T institutions represented in the symposium included, National Nuclear Energy Agency, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), and University of Indonesia. Around 30 subject experts from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia delivered invited lectures during the six technical sessions of the symposium.The event was officially inaugurated on 16th December by Prof. Dr. Djarot S. Wisnubroto, Head of BATAN, on behalf of Prof. Dr. Gusti Hatta, Minister for Research and Technology, Indonesia. The chairperson of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Evvy Kartini and Dr. Ismael Abdulhamed, Expert at the Science Directorate, ISESCO, also spoke on the occasion. In his message, Executive Director COMSATS, Dr. Imtinan Elahi Qureshi, conveyed his felicitations and good wishes to the organizers and participants. It was informed that as a part of such capacity building activities, COMSATS co-organized four events on various aspects of nano-technology during the past two years.While noting the growing population, rapid industrialization, and increased demand of energy and food, Prof. Wisnubroto underscored the potential of nano-technology in nuclear science, agriculture, food security, and environment. He also appreciated the marathon efforts of COMSATS and ISESCO in holding the event in Indonesia and showed keen desire for Indonesia to become a Member State of COMSATS and BATAN's inclusion in COMSATS Network of International S&T Centres of Excellence. Some of the key topics covered during the symposium included Nanotechnology for Energy Efficiency; Roadmap of R&D of National Electric Vehicle; and Development of Advanced Nuclear Power Plan and its Influence to Green Economy. Technical talks during the parallel sessions focused on green energy and the various applications of nano-technology and nano-biotechnology. Topics covered under these themes included, boost performance of microbial fuel cells in nanoscales; innovative nano material for solar energy harvesting; nano materials for environment and energy applications.The technical proceedings of the event concluded with a roundtable session where senior scientists discussed the present state of R&D in nano-technology and shared their recommendations to chalk out a road map for future undertakings.Dr. Kartini summed up the proceedings of the event in her concluding remarks prior to the certificate distribution ceremony, which was followed by a tour of the nuclear reactor based at BATAN's facilities in Serpong, as well as a visit to the Neutron Scattering Laboratory within the same premises.